My Samsung HL-T5687S has a dying DMD chip and I do not want to fix it only to have a LED go out or something else. I was looking at maybe grabbing a Vizio M3D550KDE from Costco for $850 but now I want to wait for a M551d...

As long as they can fix the blooming and any uniformity issues from the previous M series, then they could very well have a winner here. The 2012 M series with similar LED backlighting (edge lit, local dimming) was noted as one of the best picture quality LCDs.

I expect great things from this set. Hopefully great enough to buy a 70" set. Crossing my fingers that there will be a Black Friday deal for sub $1800ish.

Really looking forward to this series myself. I was excited for last year's E-series, especially the 70 inch. I think waiting was a good decision, though, because prices are just going to be getting lower and lower and those designs are getting to be amaaaaaaaazing. This year's M-series looks stunning with that thin bezel. In terms of picture quality, I really just don't expect much from LCDs. I am focused on size, price and design. I'll be more concerned about picture quality when OLEDs start becoming affordable, which will probably be 5-8 years away for me. In the meantime I'm looking to nab a giant Vizio that looks pretty just sitting on my wall and has decent enough picture quality (and hopefully not too much BACKLIGHT BLEED!!!!!!!!!!!)

Assuming this information will still be correct at launch, according to the CNET CES piece:

Quote:

Vizio also mentioned that like all of its 65-inch passive 3D TVs, the 65-inch M651d will have the glass pattern retarder finish, which results in the glossy screen we disliked so much on models like the M3D651SV. The other 3D sizes will have a matte or at least semi-gloss film pattern retarder, like the M3D0KD, while the smaller non-3D sets will be straight matte.

I really hope Vizio posts approximate release months soon. I'm really interested in the new M-series, too, in 65". I'm curious about the PQ difference between the 65" M-series and the 70" E series. If it's substantially better on the 65", I might nab it... otherwise, I'm looking at nabbing the 70" E series soon as I'd like a bigger picture and don't want to spend what other brands ask for 65-70".

I really hope Vizio posts approximate release months soon. I'm really interested in the new M-series, too, in 65". I'm curious about the PQ difference between the 65" M-series and the 70" E series. If it's substantially better on the 65", I might nab it... otherwise, I'm looking at nabbing the 70" E series soon as I'd like a bigger picture and don't want to spend what other brands ask for 65-70".

The 70" E has already been proven to have a decent picture anyhow.

I have the M3D651SV model (late 2012 model). One feature I like for this model is that it has local dimming (smart dimming). I don't beleive the current e-Series has this feature. Though I've read some reviews of this feature on other brands that don't seem to like it much, I think it helps the blacks in some scenes.

I'm waiting to see what the M551d looks like. I fell in love with the PQ on the M3d550kd but had to return last summer due to backlight bleed and crazy anomalie with local dimming on. Hopefully Vizio fixes those issues and I'll gladly spend $1200 or so (55") on a Vizio. It's better than dropping $2300 on a ES8000 just to have crappy blacks and terrible light-bleed, long story.

My Samsung HL-T5687S has a dying DMD chip and I do not want to fix it only to have a LED go out or something else. I was looking at maybe grabbing a Vizio M3D550KDE from Costco for $850 but now I want to wait for a M551d...

tfbit,

When you say the DMD chip is dying ... is that the one that causes the ever growing number of white specs (stuck mirrors)? If so, I'm in the same boat with my HL-T5087S. IOf the new M series, I think the M601d is going to be the sweet spot for me.

Yep. Up to 8 full white dots and 1 flashing gray as of last night. Hoping to see new Vizio LEDs at Costco soon...

Quote:

Originally Posted by psklenar

tfbit,

When you say the DMD chip is dying ... is that the one that causes the ever growing number of white specs (stuck mirrors)? If so, I'm in the same boat with my HL-T5087S. IOf the new M series, I think the M601d is going to be the sweet spot for me.

It's sad, because I've lived the image on this Samsung DLP since Day One. But I was bit by the bad power supply capacitors to the tune of $300 about 6 months after the warranty expired. With my luck ... the LEDs would die right after I pay several hundred more to fix the END.

I spent my whole lunch break searching for info on these new M series TV's ... have there been any reports as to expected availability?

It's sad, because I've lived the image on this Samsung DLP since Day One. But I was bit by the bad power supply capacitors to the tune of $300 about 6 months after the warranty expired. With my luck ... the LEDs would die right after I pay several hundred more to fix the END.

I spent my whole lunch break searching for info on these new M series TV's ... have there been any reports as to expected availability?

I've heard reports that say they'll be available by April or May but I'm thinking they might be for sale by mid to late March since they're already priced. Who knows?

I hope so .... my 90 return for my 70" E-Series is over the last week of April

I don't have a TV at all right now, so I'm waiting big time for this 70", but can you tell me about this 90 day return policy? I'm tempted to buy a TV to use for the next 3 months until the one I want comes in.

Do they charge a "restock" fee or something? What do they do with the returned TVs? Sell them cheaper?

No restocking fee. Just a solid return policy, I'm waiting for the same thing. I like my current 70", but I'm still not completely happy. I've decided I like it enough to not go to plasma, but I think this set suffers from a lot of uniformity issues. I can still see a slightly pink hue on either side of a white area on an all white screen.